Boating Safety Day

Boating Safety Day

Roads and Maritime Services has joined with Gone Fishing NSW Day to host the annual Boating Safety Day on Sunday 16 October at Port Macquarie’s Westport Park.

Member for Port Macquarie, Leslie Williams said everyone is encouraged to attend the free family friendly event to raise awareness of safe and responsible boating on NSW waterways.

“Boating Education Officers and Boating Safety Officers will be on site to provide the community with important safety equipment and lifejacket information, advice on safe boating practices, boat licences, registrations and NSW boating regulations,” Mrs Williams said.

“There will be opportunities for one-on-one discussions with key on-water and education staff with years of boating safety experience.

“Roads and Maritime will be supported by other government and non-government marine safety organisations, industry and community groups who’ll each attend with displays, information and demonstrations.”

Mrs Williams said everyone is invited to attend between 10am and 3pm this Sunday 16 October to get in on the interactive talks, safety equipment demonstrations and to enter the boating safety competition for their chance to win a great prize filled with essential boating safety equipment.

“Peak boating season is just around the corner and the focus will continue to be the promotion of safe and responsible boating habits for the almost two million people who go boating in NSW each year.

“In the past decade, nine out of the 10 people who drowned while boating were not wearing a lifejacket, which is an alarming statistic we need to change.

“Lifejackets can save lives when they are worn. Slim, light new generation lifejackets will be on display and there will be demonstrations of their use, service and maintenance at the boating community day,” Mrs Williams said.